Improvement in grain-separators



UNITED `STATES PATENT .OFFICEu ANDREW HUNTER, 0E QUINGY, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT `IN (5|RAIN-SEPARATCJRS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 150,577, dated May 5, 1874 application led A February 13, 18741 To all whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, ANDREW HUNTER, of Quincy, county of' Adams, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Cleaning and Grading Grain, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, malring part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through the machine. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same, showing gearing for driving the fan and other movable parts of the machine; and Fig. 3 is a detached view of the shaft upon which theknocker is mounted, and also the pitman and pinion by which it is operated.

Similar letters of reference denote corresponding parts in all figures. The invention consists principally in the manner of pivoting the chute-board, and of the connection therewith of the knocker for giving a vertical movement to the same, whereby the chaff is all removed from the grain before it is discharged from off' the chute, and presented to the direct current of vair from the fan, whichv separates the lighter from the heavier grain, as hereinafter explained.

In the accompanying drawing, A represents the inclosing-frame, and B the hopper, provided with the movable slide b, for regulating the quantity of' seed to be delivered to the screens. C is the shoe, which is suspended in the frame by links c at the top and inner end, and by springs c at its forward lower end, which permit it to swing back and forth in the frame, the extent of its throw, however, being regulated by means of a bar arranged across its face, and secured to the frame by adjustingscrews J. Throughlthe inner end of the shoe,

and supported in .the frame, is a shaft, D,

which has mounted upon it, about midway of its length, an eccentric or cam, F, for operating the shoe, said shoe being permitted to vibrate,

without obstruction from :the shaft, by means of lan elongated perforation cut in the sides of .said shoe. Under the screens, and inclining in the reverse direction, and also mounted in the shoe, is a chute-board, G, which is hinged at its inner lower end. This chute-board is agitated or given a swinging movement upon its hinge by means of an arm upon a shaft mounted in the frame, and driven by a pitman from the same pinion that operates the eccentric shaft that drives the shoe, and in its movement the chute-board strikes against the lower sieve, and acts as a knocker for agitating thechaffand grain upon the sieves of theA the hopper and the upper sieve, and projecting over the edgeof' said sieve a short distance. This board is mounted in the shoe, and vibrates with it, and by being agitated in connection with the shoe causes the grain and chaff to be separated-that is to say, the chaff' rising to the top before being' presented to the sieve. K is the fan, mounted in the frame in the usual manner, and driven from a main driving-wheel, M, from which motion is also communicated to the eccentric, shaft which drives or vibrates the shoe, and from the pinion N on said eccentric shaft to the knocker through a pitman, N', these parts being timed to operate together in such manner that a complete and perfect separation of the grain f'rom the chaff is had. J is a bar, arranged across the face of the shoe, and connected to the frame upon both sides by a screw, J, which, by turning a nut up upon each side upon the screws, the bar is drawn to or from the shoe. L is a partition-board, arranged about midway of the length of the frame, and

provided at its upper end with a pivoted board, Ll, the position of the ,board L1 being regulated by means of a notched arm, L2, and pin l. This partition-board is arranged about on, a line with the inner edge of the chuteboard, and the grain dropping therefrom, and being acted upon by the blast from the fan, the lighter grains are carried over said partition, while the heavier grain is deposited upon the inner side.

Where light grain is being cleaned upon the machine, in which the blast from the fan would be too heavy, the partition is swung` outmtrd,

giving it the inclined position shown in dott-ed line, Fig. 1; or farther, if desired, to catch and return the heavier portions of such light grain, while still permitting the lighter portions to be blown over, as before.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters I zitent, is-

1. The pivoted chute-board G and knocker H, arrangedmi operating substantially as described.

2. The feed-board I and sieves I', in ncombination with the chute-board G and knocker H,

arranged and operating substantially as described. p

3. The eccentric shaft D, driven from the mein wheel M by means of the pinion N, which also, through :L pitman, N', operates the knocker for vibrating the chute-board, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 22d duty of December, A. D. 1873.

ANDREXV HUNTER.

' Witnesses:

J. U. BERNARD, S. A. MEREDITII. 

